Dedicated to people.

Dedicated to people.

VALA Group – People

What do some of our employees think about their work and employer?

Tomi

Software Developer

I'm a software developer mainly because I love the rush when I figure out a bug or do something cool that someone else couldn't.
Every project there tends to be something new to try and mastering something new is always an satisfying feeling.
This job also comes with great benefits cozy office, good coffee, flexible hours and opportunity to work remotely and much more.

Before joining Vala I was working as an embedded systems developer for a few years. After a while I got a bit bored and
wanted to do something different. At first quitting my cozy job felt like a huge gamble but the feeling vanished rather quickly
when I entered the Vala office for the first time.
The culture is just great, no unnecessary bureaucracy and you can make your own decisions without asking for a permission.
I've been given the opportunity to work on projects that I find interesting which tends to make all the difference when
your working days are spent with bright colors of text editor. It also helps that the parties have been amazing, benefits
are ridiculously good and there is a genuine feeling of a team spirit we have at Vala.

Ante

Test Manager

I like to work in testing. Each system provides their own challenges; I get to learn how the smallest components in each system are interacting with each other and how functionality of the entire system is built based on these small interactions. When a system is limited, it provides a limited amount of meaningful scenarios for testing. As a tester I must cover these scenarios and eventually go beyond them, explore areas which were not thought to be possible when the system was being designed.

When I discuss with end users and designers I learn a lot - each one of them have their own view and needs regarding the system. These discussions have been enlightening to me as I’ve learned about new use scenarios and new ways of operating the system.
I’ve done some software development and I love how a single thing can be accomplished in multiple ways, in a way where the output to the user looks identical despite of the development method. However, usually none of the systems live in isolation as they are a part of a bigger entity. This leads to the situation where the number of combinations of each interacting system is virtually limitless. In such cases the testing goes to one of my favourite areas; the test coverage and risk management - as the projects usually lack the time and resources in testing we need to be able to make decisions that ensure both the maturity of the system and that the needs of the end users are met without sacrificing the quality.

Arthur

Test Automation developer

I am a test automation developer. I relocated to Finland from St. Petersburg in late 2017. It was very nice to see how much VALA helped me with all the practical matters making the whole process extremely easy.

Next in the schedule was to find a customer to suit my expertise. This project-matching process was done with great attention to my needs too. Eventually I got an opportunity to work with the quality assurance of MTV’s digital services. Right now I work with test automation but in the future I would perhaps like to move towards back end development.

The personal approach to employees is one of the many dignities of VALA. Besides that, VALA has clear goals for the future and in what comes to these goals, VALA always considers employees’ opinions.

Lauri

Test Automation developer

Everyone wants to use software that really work. I enjoy developing test automation solutions because I want to help our customers to create as high quality products as possible. For me it’s important to find proper challenges in my projects so that I can constantly get better in my work.

From the first moment at VALA, I’ve realised that people are valued and respected here. Everyone’s professional development is supported. At VALA, I can work with projects that are important and meaningful to me. Moreover, projects, where there’s just the right amount of challenge to enable constant development.

The atmosphere at VALA is very positive and there’s no unnecessary bureaucracy. This way we can always serve our customers flexibly and according to their needs.

Panu

Test Automation developer

The fact that I can learn new technologies and tools is the best aspect of my job. At the moment I work as a test automation developer/tester in a digitalization service company. In my current project I’ve produced test automation solutions mainly with Protractor and Cucumber.

At VALA I particularly like that people are so kind and helpful. It’s always easy to get help and everyone are easy to approach. Moreover, there are no hierarchies. VALA constantly supports professional development and learning new technologies.

Because my work is done mostly in front of a computer, it’s good to exercise on free time to keep the back pains away. For me the sport in question is Crosstraining.

Mika

Test Manager

I Like various challenging quality assurance tasks. The most enjoyable projects for me are ones where I get to work with our customers but also with other stakeholders. At the moment I work as a QA manager/tester in one of the finest media companies in Finland. Media industry is somewhat new to me, so it has provided many new challenges and thus kept the work interesting.

The quality of a software can be affected by choosing the right people and the right tools. It’s important for me that we have motivated and positive people here at VALA. People that support each other and work together as a team. VALA supports me by providing the needed tools and education and also the best QA professionals to work with.

My experience with VALA has been positive. Here people are respected and the wellbeing of each individual is taken care of. Development discussions are not just a yearly tradition but rather a continuous interaction and discussion. Moreover, it’s great that there is a culture of low
bureaucracy at VALA which enables us to use our time efficiently for the actual work of helping our customers. Overall, I’ve been happy to be a part of this successful and fast-growing company.

In my free time I do various different sports. I’ve noticed that when my body works, my mind works too and I can do my job well. My big goal is to run a half marathon in the future.

Ilia

Software Engineer

I am currently involved in mobile applications and system security components development. Creating useful and meaningful programs brings me satisfaction and inspiration for accomplishments. This kind of activity requires perpetual learning and a passion for understanding how software systems work in general and in detail.

VALA, in its turn, provides ample opportunities to realize yourself as an engineer. It offers the projects of all tastes, keeps a culture with all kinds of liberties, gives a warm care of every employee, encourages education and cultivates happiness.

Working at VALA means being a part of fantastic team. Every employee is both an experienced professional and a great person.

Kai

Software Engineer

Tool development is something that I enjoy in software development. It is a great feeling to create tools that helps others improve their existing product or ensure the quality of completely new software. In the past, I have developed custom test tools for Nokia. At VALA I’ve been mainly doing Test Automation, especially with Robot Framework, for various customers.

What I enjoy most about VALA is that I get enough challenges to keep the work interesting. VALA has customers who are not afraid of building complex systems to achieve their business goals.

The people I’ve worked with at VALA are much more experienced than myself. What I’m starting to learn from them is that the best developers can complete the project alone but by working together we can deliver something much more.

Hans

Software Engineer

I am a programmer and software developer. I like coding because it’s relaxing, solitary work which is a good complement to agile software development which is really all about people. I really enjoy the whole agile cycle and if it is lacking, I make sure that it is fixed. And I love getting into the team spirit!

I came from the game industry, and was curious to what lays beyond, and VALA has not disappointed me yet. I’m learning a lot which is the most important thing. Currently my main responsibility is working with a very ambitious startup company. The future is exciting!

Outside of work I enjoy playing games, whether it be board games, computer games or badminton. Tactics, and strategies and puzzles to be solved. And sleeping.

Dan

Test Manager

My passion is in test management that I have been also doing ever since I joined VALA. There are many layers in test management: requirements, budget, time schedule etc. However, I argue that the most important thing is the people. And in teams it is all about people. Like in football, that I love, you can have some really good players who can make goals, but if the team does not work well together, the players will not get enough chances to score goals. In other words, it’s not so much about one person with spectacular skillset, but a team that can support each individual to perform their best.

Matti

Software Engineer

I am a software designer and developer. I enjoy a position where I work in cooperation with the customer. I like versatile tasks that require a wide range of skills. At the moment I design and develop new features for a customer software and simultaneously I’m working as an administrator.

I have had a positive feeling about VALA since the first encounter. People are respected here, and everyone can be themselves. In VALA caring and personal development show itself through concrete actions.

I have worked as orienteering coach and those skills I can utilize in my current work. In both, the work and orienteering, it is about personal development and efforts to improve the performance and success. It is about setting goals, selecting the right route and planned progress towards the right direction.

Sampo

Quality Assurance Engineer

When speaking of VALA I can honestly say that everything that was promised when joining the company a few years back, have come true. No-nonsense attitude towards business and facing people as people – clients and workers alike – have made this one of the good guys to be working with. Challenging customer projects and amazing colleagues keep me interested and active. The positive attitude towards the future in a growth company is inspiring also to an experienced software developer and quality assurance professional. VALA also takes care of its people’s professional development in great ways. And it’s been fun so far!

Gabor

Embedded Software Engineer

What I like about is that VALA has exceeded my expectations in the way they support employees. VALA does a lot more than an employer would normally do. Besides that, in VALA I have been in projects that have demanded a lot – a true match for my skills. As a software engineer professional, what matters to me is how much you can learn from the projects and build your professional competences. I feel like VALA has done great job in that.